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Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterNov 1, 2024, 02:32 PM ET
- Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson declared he will “100 percent” play Sunday against the Denver Broncos after missing two practices this week with back and knee injuries.
“That wasn’t in doubt,” Jackson said after Friday’s practice. “Just resting my body. It’s a long season.”
When the Ravens’ injury report came out later Friday, Jackson did not have any designation for the game.
Wednesday marked the first time this year that Jackson had missed a regular-season practice. The reigning NFL MVP also sat out Thursday but returned Friday and moved around well while being a full participant.
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Ravens coach John Harbaugh is not worried about how Jackson will play after missing multiple practices in a week, which hadn’t happened since the end of the 2022 season.
“He’ll be ready,” Harbaugh said. “He studied all week. He was involved in all the preparation. He knows the game plan. He knows the opponent.”
Jackson is quarterbacking an offense that ranks No. 1 in total yards (452.1) and second in scoring (30.3 points per game). His 2,099 yards passing is fifth in the NFL, and his 501 yards rushing leads all quarterbacks.
Keeping Jackson healthy is critical for Baltimore. Since Jackson became the starting QB midway through the 2018 season, the Ravens are 63-22 (.741) with Jackson and 4-9 (.307) without him.
Jackson has taken 102 hits this season, which trails only Daniel Jones (109). Harbaugh indicated that he “absolutely” would think about giving Jackson more days off from practice in the future.
“You got to take that in consideration, for sure,” Harbaugh said. “You want your players to be at their best on Sunday.”
Also for the Ravens, running back Keaton Mitchell is listed as questionable to face the Broncos after being a full participant all week in practice. Mitchell averaged 8.2 yards per carry in eight games last season as a rookie before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 14.
The Ravens would need to activate Mitchell off injured reserve Saturday for him to play Sunday.
“He looked good, absolutely, and we’ll just have to make a decision as we go forward here,” Harbaugh said. “There’s roster implications to all that as well. The main thing as a coach [that] you look at [is that] he’s looking good, so it’s good to see him back. That’s a tough rehab he had, and it’s been stellar — his progress. So, we’ll see where we’re at.”
The Ravens (5-3) are one game back of the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) for first place in the AFC North. After Sunday’s game against the Broncos (5-3), Baltimore has a quick turnaround, playing host to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday.
